Here's an easy one you can probably answer, THO. I was struck looking at a road map one day - was Kossuth named after the town in Central Ontario? (Or I guess the Hungarian leader the town is presumably named after?)

Hello again, all!I bring some short Realmslore replies:Arivia, the short answer re. Kossuth is: Ed and I both don't know. Kossuth comes from the core game rules, and was named by someone at TSR, rather than being "from the Realms, and named by Ed."In the Realms, the being is pronounced "Koss-OOTH," BTW.

KanzenAU, Gulthas has survived, has devised a means of moving his sentience intact from monster body to monster body (so, non-good necromantic means of some sort) in order to do so, and now lives in hiding at several undisclosed locations in the Sword Coast lands. He has other dreams these days (so, no treasure hoards, but now, only ancient and powerful magic concerned with longevity and renewal and body transformations).

Sorry. ;}On the plus side, Ed plants so many Easter eggs that we're bound to stumble over more of them eventually...I know he's working on 3 related DM's Guild November releases set in the Realms: linked fiction, an adventure, and a Volo's Guide-like thingie...And much sooner than that:Stormtalons launches! (With, I'm told, a collectors' hardcover edition of Ed's novel WORDS OF UNBINDING...which I for one MUST have!!!)love,THO

How does Ed manage to write an adventure, a novella, a volo's guide, and an opening novel to a brilliant new setting all in one year and hold down a regular day job.

I spent over a year writing a 42 page sourcebook and i still dont consider it finished.

The man must be a super genius with severe insomnia.

He also takes care of his wife, and he worked on much more than just that this year (AFAIK). And, I've read somewhere (here, perhaps) that he does even more stuff, like ''ghost-writing'' part of some books for other authors. I'm starting to think that he borrowed a trick or two from Manshoon :P

Well id still like to know how he manages it. Is it down to sheer hard work. Is his memory so well developed that he can build and correct an entire work in his head so that it only takes one draft, and can he do that for multiple works simultaneously.Is it a practice thing and he has done it so often its second nature. Is it because he gets others to do the long and tedious bits such as error and continuity checking. Does he need much less sleep than normal people.

Well id still like to know how he manages it. Is it down to sheer hard work. Is his memory so well developed that he can build and correct an entire work in his head so that it only takes one draft, and can he do that for multiple works simultaneously.Is it a practice thing and he has done it so often its second nature. Is it because he gets others to do the long and tedious bits such as error and continuity checking. Does he need much less sleep than normal people.

Id love to know in case there is any tips or tricks i can use.

I can tell you. It is sheer hard work. And brilliance. And knowing "his" Realms. I ask Ed about stuff all the time more recently - prior to this year and last I was rather reticent knowing how busy he is, but I was open to him about bugging him more often and he hasn't complained yet! - and invariably in a day or so he can provide me with elven words for x, y and z, or give me a name for an ancient forest or just tell me "yep, that sounds great". The man is a creative force that knows no equal, he enjoys what he does, and spends hours upon hours doing it.

Ed will no doubt provide you with some tips in due course (I suspect they will include: write and keep writing!) but he is simply amazing, and I for one have come to appreciate more and more just what a creative wellspring he is. Aspirational and inspirational.

Oh, and he never once in my experience has he asked me to lore or continuity check his work. He may ask others, but I highly doubt it. He thinks Realms better than all of us put together.

-- George Krashos

"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus

Hi again, all.dazzlerdal, he is. But it's a happy exhausted. ;} He truly lives to serve others; it's what delights him. He's the sort of gamer who plays to spend time with his friends, and explore an unfolding story, NOT to win or be "the life of the PC party."Let me tell you a tale, of a long-ago GenCon.Ed was playing a new, being demo'd 3-4-player boardgame against me and a young, excited teenager (no fourth).And Ed was winning. Cruising to an easy win. And lo and behold, to the teenager's surprise, his MOTHER and some of her (female, same age) friends from work (in the Federal Building, in downtown Milwaukee) show up to watch, having dropped in to this craziness called Gen Con (something cheap and easy to do, back then) to see what it was all about.They all (much to his embarrassment) express an interest in the game, so the teenager explains what it's about, something of how to play, and what's going on. He admits he's losing, and the game is almost over. So they say they'll stay to watch it through to the end.And I sit at the table and play, and watch Ed throw the game so the kid wins.Subtly. Oh, I could tell what he was doing, and I think his mother (who had a sharp, quick mind) figured it out, too, but the kid didn't, and exploded in triumphant excitement at the end. His prize was a copy of the demo game (you got GOOD prizes at GenCon, back then!), and he went off to the next thing he wanted to see or play in, just laughing and talking a mile a minute; on top of the world.And after he was gone, and we were helping the game company guy running the demo restore the game to a ready starting state so the demo could be run again, the game company guy and I both looked at Ed and said, "You threw that game."And Ed smiled back at us and said, "And you see how happy it made him? He'll have that moment to look back at for years. I LOVE seeing people over the moon.""I think his mom knew what you were doing," the game company guy said, shaking Ed's hand. Ed nodded and told him, "There weren't enough rounds left to be subtle enough. But HE was fooled, so it wasn't spoiled for him. That's what matters."There. THAT'S the Ed I know, and love. It's never about him, it's always about others. He'll fight you fiercely over the right thing to do in something being written or designed, because he looks ahead to future consequences and possibilities, but he never fights to "get his own way" or to "win."Which makes him a TRUE winner, in my book. And is why he shared the Realms, and has stuck with it through all the hard times and management craziness all these years, and why he's starting this TEGG thing, a writers' collective. He did it to give his friends, and new writers, a chance at telling stories. (It would have been far easier, faster, and more profitable for him to have just "gone it alone.") Ed isn't about Ed, he's about making the little bit of the world around him that he can reach better for all of us.Which is why I'm sure it's burning him to miss Gen Con again this year...love to all,THO

It's quite possible, though I seldom had the time to spend all four days at the convention, even back then, and usually "dropped by" for brief flying visits.(Sidle up, embrace and kiss Ed, then wave goodbye and hit the dealers' area for some loot, then back to the waiting car and driver, and awayyyy!)Back then, I looked a little like a taller, more slender Katie Nolan (TV sports host). A little. ;}love,THO

Hi again, all.dazzlerdal, he is. But it's a happy exhausted. ;} He truly lives to serve others; it's what delights him. He's the sort of gamer who plays to spend time with his friends, and explore an unfolding story, NOT to win or be "the life of the PC party."Let me tell you a tale, of a long-ago GenCon.Ed was playing a new, being demo'd 3-4-player boardgame against me and a young, excited teenager (no fourth).And Ed was winning. Cruising to an easy win. And lo and behold, to the teenager's surprise, his MOTHER and some of her (female, same age) friends from work (in the Federal Building, in downtown Milwaukee) show up to watch, having dropped in to this craziness called Gen Con (something cheap and easy to do, back then) to see what it was all about.They all (much to his embarrassment) express an interest in the game, so the teenager explains what it's about, something of how to play, and what's going on. He admits he's losing, and the game is almost over. So they say they'll stay to watch it through to the end.And I sit at the table and play, and watch Ed throw the game so the kid wins.Subtly. Oh, I could tell what he was doing, and I think his mother (who had a sharp, quick mind) figured it out, too, but the kid didn't, and exploded in triumphant excitement at the end. His prize was a copy of the demo game (you got GOOD prizes at GenCon, back then!), and he went off to the next thing he wanted to see or play in, just laughing and talking a mile a minute; on top of the world.And after he was gone, and we were helping the game company guy running the demo restore the game to a ready starting state so the demo could be run again, the game company guy and I both looked at Ed and said, "You threw that game."And Ed smiled back at us and said, "And you see how happy it made him? He'll have that moment to look back at for years. I LOVE seeing people over the moon.""I think his mom knew what you were doing," the game company guy said, shaking Ed's hand. Ed nodded and told him, "There weren't enough rounds left to be subtle enough. But HE was fooled, so it wasn't spoiled for him. That's what matters."There. THAT'S the Ed I know, and love. It's never about him, it's always about others. He'll fight you fiercely over the right thing to do in something being written or designed, because he looks ahead to future consequences and possibilities, but he never fights to "get his own way" or to "win."Which makes him a TRUE winner, in my book. And is why he shared the Realms, and has stuck with it through all the hard times and management craziness all these years, and why he's starting this TEGG thing, a writers' collective. He did it to give his friends, and new writers, a chance at telling stories. (It would have been far easier, faster, and more profitable for him to have just "gone it alone.") Ed isn't about Ed, he's about making the little bit of the world around him that he can reach better for all of us.Which is why I'm sure it's burning him to miss Gen Con again this year...love to all,THO

Thank you for sharing that. That's a great glimpse into the kind of man he is. Rare is the genius who can turn their unique perception and intellectual might outwardly to make the world around him better.

A true, humble loving person strives for DOING right, not BEING right.

« There is no overriding « epic » in the Realms, but rather a large number of stories, adventures, and encounters going on all the time. [...]. Each creative mind adds to the base, creating, defining, and making their contribution to the rich diversity of the Realms. [...]. But Ed built the stage upon which all the plays are presented. Thanks Ed. » -FR Comic no.1

Ed I'm curious if you could share your realms lore to help me figure this concept out btw it's related to my witch/hag question.

So I'm wanting this hags or witches to dupe their followers into allowing a ritual that basically allows the witches to draw blood and hair from the "victimsz' which they use as components to basically make these victims similar to a vampire spawn implanting articifial "worship" in them but also a cognitive dissonance that won't allow the victims to see the manner in which they are manipulated on top of the victims basically being "fonts" for which thw witches can draw vitality and discharge many forms of damages and curses the witches would be subject to..AGAIN with the victims unaware of this and unaccepting of it even if told. The exchange of damage is spread out amogst the victims accept for certain forms and outright destruction of the witche/witches and when someone does die within this "cult" a ritual is done that prevents the soul from going to its proper afterlife but instead becomes "coin" for the hags to hags/witches to barter with. These hags/witches predominately engage in curses and causes sickness for most part, bassically small power players basically trying to avoid drawing the attention of the big players but unknowingly are fueling something beyond their control. Now my question is would it likely require an artifact of considerable or great power to fuel these passive siphoning and damage transfer abilities and soul-storage abilities along with granting the witches some of their powers or perhaps a archdevil or deity like Talona in disguise?

These rituals were intially more positive until they were corrupted by this particular conclave for their own personal gain, basically imagine a heal spell for instance that gives the witches all the benefits of it even if not present while the victim recieves a meager portion of the benefits and obfuscated damages yet feels and believes he/she is fine. Unbeknowst to the conclave (if it this is powered by an artifact or several component artifacts instruments) is the fact that it is powering or releasing something far beyond the power level they believe they will obtain with this continued ritual.

Appreciate any help you could share on topic.

My other question is are you a fan of Ralph Baskhi and have you two met before?

First and Foremost. Thank you for Death Masks. This is a Waterdeep I can get behind again. I love Laeral as the Open Lord, and I'm glad to see Mirt back where he belongs. I was also touched by the scene where she mind linked to the old lord Neverember. The idea that "its all how you view it" is something I've often tried to get across in my games (i.e. not all Red Wizards, Zhents, or Mulmasterites are evil, and not all Impilturites are holy knights, and not all Witches of Rashemen are good).

Second. Mordenkainen in the realms.... and damned if he doesn't look like Khelben.... well, you know where I'm going...

Question for Ed. As someone who likes to adventure in shadowdale, what does shadowdale look like currently? How has it changed in the intervening years? Particularly with recent events? Wanting to run a campaign there and information is scant for 5e shadowdale. Dalelands in general really.

The Road goes ever on and onDown from the door where it began.Now far ahead the Road has gone,And I must follow, if I can,Pursuing it with weary feet,Until it joins some larger way,Where many paths and errands meet.And whither then? I cannot say.

Spoiler Alert, for those that didn't or haven't yet read Death Masks...

On p.12 ... "These days, we Chosen touch the minds of others with magic only when the need is dire. Doing so ruins most minds, so Mystra has absolutely forbidden us from invading the mind of anyone who can wield the Art." for other that are not, "So Mystra made it hurt so dearly that a mage using spells without Weave-aid will collapse before they learn much of anything. WE Chosen can keep going--so she forbade us to probe wizards, and strongly cautioned us against mindreading anyone else. Adding the pain to keep us to that."

Now having mentioned quote that, when did that come into effect in terms of the exact date of Mystra's Commandement?

Mirt than mentions..."So as wizards are now rarer and more precious than ever, you are not to driving any of them insane."

So when did the decline in Wizards start, why are there fewer wizards taking up the Art?

p.21 "If Laeral now admitted to him (elminster)that she was forgetting many spells, the details of casting them simply falling out of her head time after time so they were effectively lost to her..well, she wouldn't be the first of the sisters to reaval as much to him."

Why is that happening? Did something not go right after the Sundering when Mystra came back and magic came back into the world?

P.39 can Ed elaborate on this next passage that Laeral talks about?

"All of Mystra's born Chosen---the Seven--- wear out their distinctive silver-haired bodies over time. Centuries, but eventually the crumbling began in earnest. Then they must take new ones from other as Elminster did, an ethical choice none of them preferred, or return to the Weave and await Mystra "mothering" a new body for them, or put more and more of their energies into maintaining either their magic or their bodies. She'd chosen the latter herself, so her Art now slowly fading."

Having mentioned the above quote, now that Laeral has taken a new body, is she fully restored powerwise to her archmage levels?

Hello all! So this question might be a bit outdated, but I'd like to know something about the transition from 3e in the realms to 4e. Why, when Mystra was killed by Cyric, did one of the 'other' gods of magic not subsume her portfolio? When Mystryl died it was because Karsus had stolen her divinity and then with his death a new goddess of magic, Mystra, was immediately appointed. When Mystra died it was during the Time of Troubles, so there were no gods who could take over, and at the conclusion of these events the mortal whom Mystra had chosen was ascended to the position of goddess of magic. But when the last incarnation of the goddess of magic died the portfolio was just sort of left hanging for a hundred years. So why didn't one of the other gods of magic take over and work to fix the weave, or institute a new dominion over magic? Corellon could have increased his worshipers and his power by becoming not just chief god among elves and elven god of magic and battle, but the god of magic for all of Faerun plus the chief elven deity. Did the collapse of the weave make her portfolio inaccessible in some way? Or did Lord Ao prevent in some way prevent this? Or are there some racial godly strictures? This last thought seems unlikely since some of the elven gods are aspects of other Faerunian deities. Sorry to bother with this question, but it's something I've been wondering about for awhile. I'm also not quite as current with all the reading as I'd like to be; busy life raising children and such, so if there is something obvious that I'm missing I apologize.

One often meets his destiny on the path one takes to avoid it. -Master Oogway